Features / Bristol QPOC Socials
25 months of an ‘inclusive’ queer community of colour
Lost within the diverse demographics of Bristol, are individuals like Maya Ishku who are “frustrated” with not finding their own community.
But rather than letting the frustration build up, Ishku decided to take matters into her own hands. That was when Bristol Queer People of Colour Socials met for the first time.
In December, the group will be meeting for their 25th meeting all held within less than two years.
is needed now More than ever
Ishku recalled the first meeting: “It started with me kind of feeling frustrated that there weren’t really many spaces for queer people of colour to meet and connect and get a community.
“I was feeling deprived of that kind of community.
The group have formed a bond and make it to events like Bristol Pride together
“I was involved with the queer scene from the start of my moving to Bristol, but I definitely found a lot of the queer space is very white.
“Sometimes, they didn’t feel very inclusive. I feel like a lot of the white queers had their inside groups and clicks and it was very hard to integrate into them.
“So I’d been living in Bristol for five years, and at that point I was like I want to meet more queer people of colour and queer desi people.”
The group in its infancy met for the first time in January 2023 and has ever since met monthly at several venues in the city. To gather more people from the community, Ishku created a Facebook page and shared it with queer and trans groups on the social media site.
“I just hoped that people would see it and come.”
The group will celebrate their second anniversary in January 2025
The young woman who is of Bangladeshi descent was surprised when 12 people showed up for the first social event of the group which she recalled was very “impressive”.
Ishku said: “I was sat with those other queer people of colour in the same room, we’re talking, meeting and becoming friends.”
A member of the group, Carlo Hornilla said: “I’ve been going to Bristol Queer People of Colour Socials for almost a year now and it has been such a blessing to find such a space.
“It has been so warm and welcoming and fun and exciting to befriend so many from the group and help contribute in whatever ways I can to welcome others looking for a familiar environment.”
The group has met at several venues, often having to change them due to accessibility issues.
Ishku added: “We have found it difficult to find places when it comes to places that have step-free access. A lot of Bristol is not step-free.
“But accessibility has been a concern, also when it comes to gender-neutral toilets because there’s a lot of people in our group who are non-binary.”
Bristol Queer People of Colour Socials meet every month to chat, have a gala time, and build a community of queer people of colour. Anyone who identifies as a queer people of colour can join these meetings.
All photos: Bristol Queer People of Colour Socials
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